Mystic's Touch by Dena Garson

on the bed, then
back at Danet. “Really?”
    Don’t forget what I said about the telos.
    She took a deep breath. “I know it sounds crazy, but we are
able to talk to each other.” She pointed to her head. “In here.”
    “I see,” Gehiji said slowly.
    “He said to tell you that he needs your help and that he’ll
return the telos you gambled away if you are able to find out who was behind
whatever is wrong with him.”
    Gehiji sat up straight, looked at Ceros then back at Danet.
“When did he tell you this?”
    The look in his eye made her lean back. “Yesterday, when I
first discovered who I was hearing in my head. But I didn’t know who you were
or where to find you until you came in with the queen.”
    “This is the first time you’ve been able to talk with him
this way?”
    She nodded.
    He stood and looked at the prince across the room then
motioned for Danet to follow.
    She pulled the blanket around her and followed him to Ceros’
bedside.
    What is he doing?
    I’m not sure. He’s standing over you. You trust him,
right?
    Yes, why?
    Because if he pulled out a knife right now, there wouldn’t
be much I could do to stop him.
    He chuckled. No, actually, there wouldn’t be.
    It’s not funny. I don’t know him and that isn’t
reassuring me.
    Gehiji will not harm me. Of this I am certain.
    “Is he awake?” Gehiji asked her quietly.
    “Yes. You startled me when you came in, which in turn woke
him.”
    Gehiji squatted next to the bed and whispered loud enough
for both of them to hear, “Ceros, tell her what nickname you were given during
our first year of training and tell her to tell me.”
    Ceros’ laughter echoed in her head. They called me Silent
Night.
    “Silent Night?” Danet said. “That doesn’t sound terribly
insulting.”
    Gehiji’s eyes widened in surprise. Obviously he hadn’t
expected her to be able to answer, but he recovered quickly. “It’s the story
behind the nickname that’s funny.”
    Don’t ask because no, I’m not telling you.
    She looked at Gehiji. “He said I shouldn’t bother asking
because he won’t tell me the story.”
    Gehiji laughed. “I wouldn’t either.” He wiped his hand
across his face. “Okay, I have to be sure this is for real.” A flash of pain
crossed his face. “Ceros, what did we lose on that mission to Ismailia?”
    A tightening in her chest made her breath catch. Ceros?
    I’m sorry. I didn’t clamp down on that memory fast
enough.
    Are you okay?
    Yes. It’s a very painful memory.
    Obviously. She rubbed at a spot on her chest. Her
movement caught Gehiji’s attention.
    “What did he say?”
    Tell him I said too damn much.
    “He said, ‘Too damn much.’”
    Gehiji nodded and looked to Ceros. “That we did, my friend.”
He patted Ceros on the arm then stood.
    He towered over Danet, but he looked down at her with a new
expression. Something gentler with a sliver of respect.
    “So why you are able to speak to my friend this way?”
    “I’m not entirely sure.”
    Gehiji stepped closer. “I sense a partial lie in that, but
not enough for me to disbelieve you. Is it because you are not certain of why?”
    “Yes, that would be accurate.”
    “But you have ideas.”
    “Yes.”
    “Ideas that you don’t want to share.”
    “Not right now, no.”
    “Have you shared your ideas with him?” Gehiji jerked his
thumb in Ceros’ direction.
    No. But you will soon, won’t you?
    “Not yet. I told him I need to do some reading on it first
so no one jumps to any conclusions.” She gave Gehiji a half-smile. “I figure
it’s the least of our problems right now anyway.”
    “You’re probably right.” He stepped around her and grabbed a
chair from the sitting area. He placed the chair next to the bed then indicated
Danet should sit on the bed next to Ceros.
    Gehiji looked at Ceros then at Danet. “This is a little
weird, knowing he’s there and functioning but his body isn’t moving.”
    “You should try having him in your head, hearing